Reviews

Driving Impression

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With the base engine and fine 5-speed gearbox, it takes some work to be happy with the performance; you have to keep the revs up because there isn’t a lot of torque. And its acceleration isn’t exactly quick, from zero to sixty in 10 seconds. Consolation is 36 highway miles per gallon.

Though updated, we found the 6-speed twin-clutch PowerShift transmission doesn’t downshift promptly or upshift smoothly in the lower gears. We preferred the manual gearbox.

The Fiesta is nimble and responsive. The electric power steering is just right, in its weight and feedback. Not unlike the original Mazda Miata, its steering and suspension make it feel hotter than it really is.

It’s secure on a smooth highway, but with a short wheelbase, the Fiesta tends to hop over rough pavement. And the nose dives under hard braking.

The three-cylinder turbo seems worth the $1000, considering it brings more torque and five more miles per gallon. The exhaust note has the howl of a three-cylinder engine. You have to shift a lot to run with the fast guys, but it’s fun.

Upping the fun ante is the ST, with its 197 turbocharged horsepower, 214 pound-feet of torque at a way low 1400 rpm, and 6-speed gearbox. Now lower and stiffen the suspension, quicken the steering ratio, and bolt on bigger brakes. Not done; there is electronic torque vectoring to minimize torque steer and rotate the front-wheel-drive car around corners. It’s a little gem.

Walk Around

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The Fiesta five-door hatchback has a crisp profile, with a wedge shape and arched roofline. The headlamps sweep back into the fenders, while a wide mouth with low fascia makes it look almost mean, for a subcompact.

The proportions aren’t the same with the sedan. It does not look crisp. Its long body and short greenhouse make it look tall and narrow from every angle.

The ST brings it all together, emphasizing the confident lines with an aggressive air dam and black mesh grille, along with a low stance on chunky wheels, and cross-patterned rear diffuser with twin exhaust tips.

Interior Overview

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The cabin hasn’t changed much over the eight years of this generation, and it shows. A lot of plastic, infotainment screen not integrated. Other subcompacts have found interior room in new designs, but the Fiesta still feels cramped and busy inside, with too many switches and knobs on the dash.

The soft-touch materials on the dash and doors, around the plastic, are fine. The Sync 3 system, with its 6.5-inch touchscreen, is a feature you might expect on a more expensive car. The cupholders are well placed, and there are plenty of small storage bins. The cabin is also fairly quiet for a subcompact, with a sound blanket under the hood to dampen the coarse-sounding engine, and a laminated windshield.

The ST goes the other way, with piped-in intake noise. In that car, we like it.

The driving position is excellent. The S model seats are flat and unsupportive, though we can’t think of any subcompact with good seats in their base model. The SE seats have better fabric and contours, but they still feel like bar stools. If you want to talk seats, jump to the optional Recaro seats on the ST, which are great, though, of course, they are costly.

In back, legroom and headroom are very tight; three adults don’t fit. And the 60/40 rear seats don’t fold flat.

There’s 26 cubic feet of cargo space. The Honda Fit has twice that.

The sedan has a good-sized trunk, with 12.8 cubic feet.

Summary

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The 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine offers excellent value in a spirited high-mileage five-door hatchback. The ST offers fantastic value in a pocket rocket. But if you avoid the 6-speed twin-clutch automatic, you’re left with a standard shift. The interior is cramped, no matter what.

Sam Moses contributed to this review, with staff reports.

Model Lineup

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The 2018 Ford Fiesta comes in S, SE, Titanium, and ST models.

The S sedan and hatchback are basic, with rollup windows and 15-inch steel wheels with hubcaps, but they do have air conditioning, Bluetooth, a 6-speaker sound system, adjustable steering wheel, and a rearview camera. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard, and the three-cylinder engine is optional.

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